Off the Wagon

Two days into the school year and I have already fallen off the wagon. I didn’t write yesterday. I also ate like crap and skipped my run. The worst part is I felt entitled to let my goals slide because I had been so productive in getting other things done.

This makes me think of the glass elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Until Charlie, no one was brave enough to see what the elevator could do. The fear of being “cut to ribbons” held them all back and made settling for only moving up and down and sideways more palatable.

I don’t want to settle. I don’t want palatable.

 I want to break through the glass ceiling and see what the world has to offer.

How about you? Are you ready to put in a good days work and settle for that being enough, or do you want to strive for breaking through the ceiling of what you thought possible and enjoying the view from above?

Back to School Humor For the Adults

I'm wicked busy today. Tomorrow is back to the day job and with so many little threads left to tie up I've been too swamped to write a post, so I leave you with this funny from Facebook.

My kids would talk about this for days!

Happy Writing.
Ann

Stress Management for the Highly Dysfunctional Writer/Teacher/Mother

Yes, it’s back to school time and with two days to go the stress is building like a shaken soda left in the summer heat. For six years I’ve been able to balance writing and family and school and survive. But this year I want better. I don’t want to merely survive. I want to thrive.

I mentioned in my last post about freezer meals. I’ve prepared several gluten, dairy, corn free meals and stuck them in the freezer with instructions written with sharpie on each bag. Now at least when I’m swamped I won’t blow my diet or subject my family to unhealthy fast food more than a couple times a month. (Hate to tell you how many “sac” meals a week we ate towards the end of the last school year. You’d be sick.)

I’ve got the food covered and in a convenient “30 minute from prep to table” kind of way Rachel Ray would approve of.

But there’s another part of the balancing act for a writer/teacher/mother that is equally as important as food.

Stress Management.

Holy Moly, the stress levels around this house get high at times and with the elevated emotions, I get cranky. Cranky authors write cranky characters, and NO ONE wants to root for a cranky character. I know. My critique partners have told me in many, many ways.

So, how do you control stress when all 24 hours of your day are planned to the minute?

I have no freaking clue. If you find out, please pass the answer on.

While I wait for you, my whole family has taken up the Couch to 5K plan. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

With this program you spend 30 minutes 3 times a week building your running stamina is short sprits until you can run a 5K in about 40 minutes.

I am a total couch potato. Walking from mid-parking lot to the Walmart or following my son on foot during his Sunday riding lessons is about the sum of my exercise routine. I’m like everyone else. I don’t have time.

But for some reason this plan has clicked for me. It has clicked for the whole family. The Officer (a.k.a. the husband) is running, so is J (my son) and even Molly (The dog) has lost the extra pounds she put on at the shelter. And we look forward to doing it together as a family. Family time, stress busting, and exercising; what more could you ask for in a multi-tasking 30 minutes 3 times a week?

Multi tasking is the key to survival for us multi talented mothers. How do you beat stress while getting it all done in a day? I’d love to hear your plans.

Ann

Look Out! It’s Back to School Time Again

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a teacher/writer/mother like the three words Back To School. Just when the words start flowing, the kids start entertaining themselves, and the traveling ends, the tranquility that is a full time writer comes to a crashing halt.

Feel the whiplash? I wonder if my health insurance would cover that. **pondering moment**

I have seven days before reality uproots my writing for ten months. Seven days to shop, purge the house, write a book, say goodbye to sleep, get the kid ready, OMG I have nothing to wear!!  How do you write a lesson plan again, first or third person? Where the heck did I leave my name badge? Oh crud, I meant to__________ fill in the blank with the millions of things I planned to do and never did.  And today is Hubby’s birthday. Where’s the damn cake?

AGH!!!

It’s frustrating.

But I’m reminded, rather oddly, of the saying, “It’s not the size of the girl in the fight, but the size of the fight in the girl.” I am a big girl, but I’ve also got a lot of fight when it comes to both my writing and teaching careers.

And. . . . this year I have a master plan. A plan that involves FREEZER MEALS, along with a few other things I will disclose in good time.

So, if you’re a teacher/writer/mother, (all three or just one) and you’re looking for a few times saving healthy tips for getting ALL THE THINGS done, stick around. You might find something useful.

And, as for those freezer meals, check this site out.

 http://onceamonthmom.com/101-summer-freezer-meals/

Ann

Hottest Royal Evva!

It’s no secret I love the Royals or that my pick for the HOTTEST ROYAL EVER is Harry. But did you know the hero in River Deep, my YA WIP, is Prince Harry’s twin? True story and here’s why. . .

Need I say more? I didn't think so.

Ann

Failure is a State of Mind

With the RWA National Conference in full swing in Anaheim this week, I’m reminded how the isolation writers face can cripple their perseverance and the importance of a supportive writing community.

This week I attended a reader’s workshop instead of RWA. I miss my supportive community, but during the closing of my workshop the presenter played this video. A reminder that failure is a state of mind, and someone always has your back. You just have to believe in those around you and never fail yourself.

Enjoy, (and sorry about the ad, but the video is worth it.)

The RWA 11 Post

This time last month I was here...

...with these people

...from

...to talk alittle about

...And

.... okay, maybe not so much them but there was this

...and from where I sat, it was pretty damn good!